Sharyn Smart talks to … – Page 3

Upcycle Fashion Designer Zoe Beck

August 19, 2015 by Sharyn Smart

Zoe Beck has impressed organisers at NZ Fashion Week with her up-cycled designed garments.

After being told she was just too young to model in 2014 the15-year-old from Tauranga is not only modelling but showing eight of her pieces this year.

“I was so excited. I have been accepted as a designer and am modelling as well,” said Beck.

Zoe has entered into the “Walk the Line Show” which is presented by the YMCA and is an amazing opportunity for young NZ designers to show off their passion and talents on an international platform. She has entered at least one garment into each category of High Fashion, Carnival, Cultural, Recycled and Open design.

Makeup artist Codi McMurray-Young in semi-finals

August 10, 2015August 19, 2015 by Sharyn Smart

11407129_873586462709805_4210803236914200279_n Makeup artist Codi McMurray-Young is one step closer to taking part in NZ Fashion Week.

“I enjoy doing makeup because I get to make people feel happy and feel good about them-selves. Movie makeup is heaps of fun because I get to make someone’s dream a reality.

The 18-year-old from Inglewood has been picked from hundreds of entries as one of five semi-finalists for the HITO Hot New Talent Competition which is part of NZ Fashion Week.

“I saw it on facebook. I said to Mum maybe I should enter. I then completely forgot about it until I went to Mums and read an email saying congratulations you got into the top 5. I got really excited.

“They said in their email there were 100s and 100s of entries so it was pretty amazing to be hand-picked for the top five.”

It is now down to the public to vote to determine the final three in each category. Voting will be open from Friday 7^th August to Friday 14^th August.

“NZ Fashion Week is the first competition that I have ever entered. It is really exciting but really, really hard as well. It’s about who you know and how many people you know. I definitely really need the votes and shares.

“Hopefully I will get enough likes go to Auckland and help out with the NZ Fashion Week and show everyone my skills.”

Jo Seagar’s devotion to Hospice and Cooking

August 9, 2015 by Sharyn Smart

Jo Seagar at the release of her book "A Bit of What you Fancy" Photo by : Sharyn Smart — Jo Seagar at the release of her book “A Bit of What you Fancy”
Photo by : Sharyn Smart

Jo Seagar is well known for her passion as a cook but many people do not know about her other passion – Hospice.

In the 2014 New Years Honours she was privileged to be named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community, including 15 years helping Hospice New Zealand.

“I’m as passionate about Hospice as I’m about cooking. I’ve been the Ambassador for all the Hospices in New Zealand since 1999. My job is to raise funds and awareness by just getting the message of Hospice out there. It’s all about a philosophy of care and living each moment surrounded by your loved ones.”

The philosophy behind Hospice and the level of care they received meant a lot to Jo and her family when her father was fighting for his life.

“I started volunteering at Hospice in 1999 shortly after the death of my father. Thanks to Hospice he was able to die peacefully at home surrounded by family.”

Ben and Chrissy Hekenui’s life changing journey

July 30, 2015October 8, 2015 by Sharyn Smart

IMG_0289E Having his legs severed off in an industrial accident in 2008 abruptly changed the direction of Ben Hekenui’s life. He talks to freelance photojournalist Sharyn Smart about life after the accident.

“It was either all of me or a part of me. And I said you aren’t going to take me!”

Ben’s positive attitude throughout his horrific ordeal comes from a life-time of playing top level sports.

“Through all my sport I’ve had that determination, courage and that never give up attitude – this won’t beat me.”

After 26 years together, his wife Chrissy keeps him in line and keeps him focused. She has lovingly stood by his side and supported him throughout his ordeal.

“Usually they say the man is the rock but in this case she’s the rock.”

Today the 43-year-old double amputee has a passion for wheelchair basketball and captains the Taranaki RollersTeam. He has recently been named in the New Zealand training squad.

“If I was still an able-bodied person I wouldn’t have known what wheelchair basketball was like. I wouldn’t have been Taranaki Person of the Year, Countdown hero or nominated for the Spirit category at the Attitude Awards held on World Disability Day.

Lantern House Trust supports community

July 14, 2015 by Sharyn Smart

This story is about two families who have gone to extreme lengths to ensure not only their own children but many families in the future have a safe, nurturing environment to grow in.

Sheri and Andy Hay’s daughter Monique is 20-years-old and has very high special needs as she has Dravet syndrome. She has autistic features and requires 24 hour care.

Monique Hay.jpg.opt401x439o0,0s401x439 Mitchell Landers 1.jpg.opt401x360o0,0s401x360

Julie and Roger’s son Mitchell has just turned 20-years-old. He has very high special needs as he has Cornelia de Lange syndrome and also requires 24 hour care.

These two special needs young adults are part of an increasing group that society is failing. More funding along with better support has to be found to work along-side families to enable their children to have a greater quality of life.

Lantern House Trust brings community together to build a “home”

June 26, 2015July 3, 2015 by Sharyn Smart

Dow AgriSciences

Dow AgroSciences, Habitat for Humanity and the Lantern House Trust have partnered to build a residential home in Inglewood.

The house will home up to five disabled people with their caregivers which is a first for Taranaki.

“It’s really exciting to come here and work on this house where we are collaborating to not just make it a home for a family but for the young adults who have disabilities to live together with their caretakers,” said Production Leader, Shannon Oglesby.

“This is our 6^th house in Taranaki and I’ve been involved in several that Dow has done in the United States. We are excited to get a team out today to work together to make some significant progress.

The company is very passionate about every build and uses each opportunity for team building.

“We have expertise at our manufacturing facility like electrical, construction and engineering so it was fun to get people to come out and use their skills to help.

“We’ve got people from all our different functions, manufacturing, supply chain, commercial all working together from leaders to operators to engineers. We wanted to get a cross section to come out and work together to build.”

Dow AgroSciences have been involved in Habitat for Humanity globally for over 30 years.

“This is our second one in Inglewood, though this build is different from the first, being a residential home. There are then two in New Plymouth and two in Waitara,” said office manager, Dana Candy.

“We have people volunteering today that don’t necessarily work or interact with each other each on a daily basis at work so it’s great seeing them here working alongside each other doing something a little bit different.”

Staff member and volunteer Clare Nolan said when the call went out so many people stepped forward it was overwhelming.

“I think that it is fair to say that the idea of helping out was very, very popular amongst the staff. We have got two shifts with 10 on each shift as we had more people than we could accommodate.

“We intended to paint, but of course with the weather that didn’t work out so we have been doing insulation. We have brought one of our builders with us so he is out the back helping with the carpentry. We have got some of the maintenance staff in here helping out with the roof.”

Sherry and Andy Hay along with Julie and Roger Landers formed Lantern House Trust to ensure the future care and safety of their children.

“We are all quite similar in our philosophies of raising our kids and we are quite proactive about making sure there are good choices and they have a good quality of life. We go out there actively looking for those things,” said Julie Landers.

Jay-Jay Harvey and Enrique Johns talk about week one on Dancing with the Stars

June 10, 2015 by Sharyn Smart

Photo supplied “Jay-Jay Harvey and Enrique Johns please take to the floor!!”

These are words that Jay-Jay is still coming to grips with after being talked into taking part in Dancing with the Stars NZ 2015.

“At first I said no as I thought it wouldn’t be cool. I didn’t think I would have the time and I had no interest at that time. Then I got talked into it by Dom and my best friend and my boss. So I decided – oh fine I’ll do it – and now I love it!!

Jay-Jay and Enrique have spent many hours together rehearsing with Enrique talking leave from his job to ensure his full focus is on the show.

“It’s been SO tough. It is completely out of any realm of anything I have ever done before. I’m uncomfortable …..

Enrique jumps in and adds “You are out of your comfort zone! She likes to be the boss!!”

Jay-Jay bursts into laughter and admits “yea I like to be the boss.”

Fay Looney shares her extraordinary photographic career

May 29, 2015July 3, 2015 by Sharyn Smart

Fay Looney's photography on display in her front paddock, Koru Road, Oakura, Taranaki — Fay Looney’s photography on display in her front paddock, Koru Road, Oakura, Taranaki

Doing as her mother told her launched Fay Looney into an awesome photographic career.

“She rang me up one day and said ‘there is a little job in the paper for six weeks selling school photography to country schools, you should apply for it.’ So I did what my mother told me and got the job.”

The job was selling photos for an Australian Company to schools throughout New Zealand.

“It was a new school photography company that came into country in the late 70s. They wanted sales people to go to the schools and put things in place for the photographers to come along and take the photos. I come from a sales background so I joined as a sales person.

Pip Guthrie talks about life as a photographer

May 20, 2015July 3, 2015 by Sharyn Smart

Photography has always played a big part in the life of New Plymouth photographer Philippa Guthrie known as Pip.

Her father formed Charter and Guthrie with Roy Charters just after the war.

“I think in its hey-day in 1964 to the early 80’s there was about 12 or 13 people working for them. They were the first to get a colour paper processor in NZ so that was an amazing evolution.

“When your parents have got a business you just all help. As kids we learnt to photograph and print. We used to glaze the photos and number them. We did the delivery runs, picking up the films from the Chemists. We all had great holiday and after school jobs, which was very social and great pocket money.

“My brother and I were given a camera and we would do the receptions for the weddings. You shot everybody at the reception in those days at the tables. I see albums now that people bring out from 1960’s and 70’s, these little red ones. Actually my partner’s parents have one. It makes you laugh to see them still in pristine condition. They are a real piece of history cared for with such love, pride and memory.”

Steve Bowkett – mission two to Tacloban

April 29, 2015July 3, 2015 by Sharyn Smart

As a small group of New Plymouth volunteers touched down back home in New Plymouth Steve Bowkett was already planning a third trip back to Tacloban.

“Right up to the last day we were still meeting people that we would of liked to help. I would like to go back in September.”

“I’ve told my church that I will go back. It does tug on the heart strings. You see the need and how badly off they are. You just give a hand. I enjoy it and it’s fun.

“We don’t give out any cash. They might ask but we just build them a house, give them a sack of rice, school supplies or something like that.”

A furniture builder by trade and owner of Artesano in Fitzroy, New Plymouth, he enjoys travelling to disaster areas around the world helping others by offering whatever skills he can.

“Last year we started in Barangay 79 after Typhoon Yolanda ravaged the Phillipines. A local, Emma, gave us a list of people around her neighbourhood that really needed help. I still hear from a few of them on facebook.

This trip Steve was joined by Justin Butler, Zavia Smith and Lynette Betteridge.

“It took quite awhile to get a team but I got the right people at the right time. We worked well together.”

Variety Bashers and Rotary join forces to enhance lives.

April 8, 2015 by Sharyn Smart

Sydnie Maxwell on her new travel scoot with her mother Maree and members of the Naki Boyz team.

Sydnie Maxwell is leaving everybody in her dust as she powers away on her new electric travel scoot sponsored by The Variety Bash and Rotary.

“I have cerebral palsy so that means I use 10 times more energy than the average human being so I do need to preserve my energy when I can. The travel scoot is great for me.

“It’s definitely really awesome as I can collapse it myself and then my friend can stick it in the boot of her car. I couldn’t do that with my wheelchair as it is way too heavy.”

The 25^th Variety Trillian Bash started in New Plymouth this year with 35 vehicles assembling at East End Surf Club for some presentations before hitting the road.

Ambassador Suzy Cato was there to share her love for the bash. She really enjoys meeting so many amazing people as she travels the country with the bashers.

“The Bash is a great way of promoting Variety, especially through the small towns where Variety can play a huge part of a child’s life.

“It’s meeting the people – that’s the highlight for me. By talking to them and sharing your love for the bash the love is shared!”

Brando Yelavich solo navigates the NZ coastline

April 4, 2015July 4, 2015 by Sharyn Smart

Sharyn Smart talks with Brando Yelavich after he completes a 600 day navigation around the wild coastline of NZ.

Brando Yelavich finishing his epic over 8,000 km journey around the NZ coastline.

Making an extreme decision to “clean up” his life changed Brando Yelavich from a troubled youth to inspirational hero.

“Go big or go home. I think that if you are going to do something you might as well give it a 110%. You only do it once, especially if you are walking around NZ. I’m not going to do that again! – he laughs.

The 21-year-old has just returned from his latest adventure at Outward Bound Trust of New Zealand in Anikiwa.

“I had no idea what was going to happen at Outward Bound. So it was just like once again going into the unknown and just living. I wasn’t nervous at all but just excited for an adventure of 21 days in my element.

“I quickly discovered outward bound was completely different to my solo adventure as it was team based. You were forced to be in very close proximity to 14 other people for 21 days. You pretty much can’t escape people. It turns these 14 strangers into family members or friends for life which was absolutely amazing.”